Cancer continues to be one of the most dreaded diseases even though there is more awareness now than there was years ago. But the stigma surrounding cancer is yet to be overcome.
But then there are people who have set examples — heroes in their own way — choosing to fight the disease openly and in the process discovering that there are many people who are willing to hold their hands.
Lakshmi Satyasheelan now looks back at the last eight years of her life with awe. “I don’t think people who knew me ever thought that I would be mentally stable after the first and the biggest shock of my life, when I lost my husband to a heart attack.” The events of the day are still so vivid in her mind that her eyes brim and her voice chokes.
But, tragedy was not to stop with that. She was diagnosed with lymphoma a year later. A daughter who was finishing school and a son in class 6, became her pillars of strength. In the meantime, she recovered just enough to refurbish her tailoring shop that is now doing a roaring business at Thammanam.
“It was my husband who managed finances at home and shop. I did not know anything when he had died. I had to learn from the scratch,” said Lakshmi. She said her prayers were for her son. “He lost his childhood in looking after me. I want him to find his vocation of interest.” Her daughter got married and was in Kuwait, said Lakshmi who had come to participate in the get-together organised by Cochin Cancer Society.
She looks back with gratitude towards her brother and friends who helped for her treatment and pooled in for her children’s studies. “When I recovered somewhat, I had to earn a living and my tailoring shop took all my time. I feel guilty for not having spent much time as I had wanted to with my son.”
It was oncologist Dr. V. P. Gangadharan who she said gave the strength to fight back even as she now stands cured of her lymphoma that had spread all over her body. “I was a physical and a mental wreck,” said Lakshmi.
Choosing a life partner is a risk that everybody takes. But to choose a partner after knowing the risks is what sets apart Anil. He made his choice known to his parent, his parishers and went to speak to Divya’s parents for a marriage proposal. Divya was diagnosed with cancer when in class 12, right after her exams. Now Divya from near Mala is a proud mother of two. “Anybody can get the disease,” says Anil. “Suppose I get the disease after marriage?” he asks.
Another inspiring tale is of a young man Manu, who was hosting the show at the get-together of the many people who had come to share their experiences and also put up a show of talent. Cancer struck this young man when in the second year of engineering college. Now he has moved ahead in life taking a PhD from Cochin University of Science and Technology and is all set to get married.
There were poetry, songs and dances by people who joined the meeting to mark Cancer Awareness Day that falls on February 4.
Actors and playback singers of Malayalam film industry joined the meeting at various stages. About 20 cyclists from Paravur Taluk Residents’ Association Apex Council rode from Paravur to the venue of the meeting at Gandhi Nagar Lions Community Hall to create awareness on cancer – early detection and treatment — in support of the Cochin Cancer Society.
